Page:Indira and Other Stories.pdf/43

 "I was much surprised to hear you say that your home is at Kaladighi. I should never have dreamed that such a delightful little person could be born in such a place. I find it difficult to believe, even now, that such a charming girl comes from our rough countryside."

This gave my woman's wits the opportunity for which I was waiting. "You are pleased to flatter a poor servant," I said, "but every one in our country knows that it was your wife who was our reigning beauty. Tell me, sir, have you any news of her?"

"No," he replied coldly, "how long is it since you left home?"

I replied, "it was soon after your wife was carried off that I came here. I suppose, sir, you have married again?"

The answer, to my relief, was "No."

Yes, I was very glad to hear that he had not taken another wife to himself. What I said was, "Of course with such big people as you, a second marriage is a serious matter. If you were